Transplantation Versus Prosthetic Replacement of the Heart

Abstract

The cardiac allograft has a far superior clinical record than the mechanical device or artificial heart. Further efforts in two-staged cardiac replacement are encouraged using, initially, an orthotopic total replacement of the nonfunctioning heart and, later, substitution by a cardiac allograft. Orthotopic cardiac replacement with a mechanical device offers promise, but elective clinical application may be delayed for many years.